Where Best

Taiwan

Best street food in the world, dramatic gorges, deeply welcoming culture.

· East Asia · Last updated May 2026

Taiwan is one of Asia's most underrated destinations. Taipei has the cleanest streets, friendliest people, and best night markets in the region. Get out of the city and you find marble gorges, mountain hot springs, and a high-speed rail that makes the whole island accessible in days.

Base in Taipei and work outward: Raohe and Ningxia night markets after dark, Beitou hot springs and Yangmingshan trails by day, then the high-speed rail south — Tainan for the old capital and its snack culture, Kaohsiung for the harbour. The east coast around Hualien and Taitung is the wild side, all cliffs and Pacific. Food is the budget's best friend; a full night-market dinner costs less than a sandwich back home, and beef noodle soup alone justifies a flight.

The honest list: summer is a steam bath with typhoons from June to October, English gets thin fast outside Taipei, and the cities themselves are grey and functional — you come for what happens in them, not how they look. Taroko Gorge is still recovering from the 2024 earthquake, so check what's actually open before building a trip around it. If you need beaches or grand architecture, look elsewhere. The welcome and the food cover everything else.

Highlights

  • Taipei

    Night markets, hot springs, hipster cafes, and the warmest welcome.

  • Taroko Gorge

    Marble cliffs above a jade river — earthquake damage means checking what's open first.

  • Tainan

    The food capital — historic city with the best snacks.

  • Sun Moon Lake

    Aboriginal culture and tea farms in the central highlands.

Practical info

Visa
Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days). Verify before travel.
Currency
TWD (New Taiwan Dollar). Roughly 32 TWD ≈ 1 USD.
Language
Mandarin. English limited but signage in Taipei is good.
Safety
Very safe. Typhoons June-October worth tracking.
Getting around
High-speed rail end-to-end. Metro in Taipei. EasyCard for everything.
Tap water
Tap water generally safe; locals often filter.
Plug type
Type A Type B 110V
Money
Cash for night markets and small shops; cards in cities.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Taiwan?
Taiwan is at its best in March, April, October, November. It's best to avoid June, July, August.
How many days do you need in Taiwan?
Most trips run 1–4 weeks, depending on how much ground you want to cover.
Is Taiwan expensive?
Plan for budget – mid-range daily spend, depending on how you travel.
Is Taiwan safe for travelers?
Very safe. Typhoons June-October worth tracking.
Do you need a visa for Taiwan?
Visa-free for most Western passports (90 days). Verify before travel.

Compare Taiwan with

Taiwan vs Japan

Taiwan vs Hong Kong

Taiwan vs China

Taiwan vs Mongolia

Taiwan vs Singapore

Taiwan vs Thailand

Taiwan vs Vietnam

Not sure where to go

Take the 5-minute quiz

Answer a few honest questions and get matched to destinations that actually fit how you travel.

Start the quiz